Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. © Copyright 2009 Co-op City Times
Vol. 45 No. 8
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Fire in Building 13 injures three cooperators; one seriously
Corporation’s by-laws should not be ignored by Board members Othelia Jones
President’s Message President
Smoke damage from the fire that started Tuesday morning in an apartment on the 26th floor of Building 13, extends down the exterior Photo by Bill Stuttig of the building’s west wing. BY BILL STUTTIG A fire broke out on Tuesday morning in an apartment on the 26th floor of Building 13 which resulted in serious damage to 12 apartments and sent two cooperators to the hospital for smoke inhalation, one of whom still remains in serious condition. Riverbay General Manager Vernon Cooper, who was on the scene shortly after news of the fire reached him early Tuesday morning, called it “a terrible fire, which by
all accounts thus far indicate that it originated from apartment 26M. To our knowledge, two residents were hospitalized as a result of smoke inhalation, one of whom was released after treatment. One cooperator is still in the hospital, being closely monitored. The Fire Department of New York’s fire marshal has not yet issued a final report, however, the report from our
Failure to provide mandatory proof of co-op insurance results in $150 administrative fee
BY ROZAAN BOONE Approximately 247 shareholders of Co-op City still have not provided proof that they have secured and are maintaining co-op insurance to protect themselves against liabilities and the loss of personal valuables in the event of fire, flood or other emergencies. On July 13, 2005, the Riverbay Board of Directors approved a resolution making it mandatory for all current shareholders to obtain and maintain during the course of their residency, insurance coverage to protect themselves against liabilities and the loss of personal valuables. Prior to this resolution being approved, only new shareholders were required to have the same mandatory minimum coverages and the July 13, 2005 vote extended the policy to all current shareholders.
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According to the resolution, which was introduced by Board Director Helen Atkins and seconded by then-Second Vice President Rev. Calvin Owens, all shareholders of Riverbay are required to maintain at least $25,000 in personal property coverage; $2,500 in building property protection; 12 months additional living expense; $100,000 in liability protection and $1,000 in guest medical protection. “I find it necessary to have co-op insurance and I am absolutely in favor of it because this is our home and we should welcome anything that helps to enhance our community and protects us and our families from future liabilities or loss, so it is to our best advantage,” said Atkins in July, 2005. “Personally, I also (Continued on page 4)
25¢
I wasn’t planning to write anything this week, but I feel compelled to, based on the improper actions taken by the Board at a recent meeting where I was absent due to illness. I realize and recognize that all of us have our own trials and tribulations, and we are facing tough times in this national economic climate, but I must address a situation to ensure that the Board continues to represent you, the people of Co-op City, in the proper fiduciary manner where services are delivered with the most possible savings of your hardearned dollars. A controversy is ongoing about hiring an outside audit firm. Let me be clear, I do not care which outside audit company is hired by Riverbay, I only want the best firm to be hired, and I want them hired in the correct way. Arguments and debate can legitimately be presented from different sides, and that’s the way it should be. And I should add that Riverbay, according to regulations, is supposed to hire the lowest “qualified” bidder for contracts, which is not necessarily the same as the lowest bidder. Truthfully, I am very discouraged and disappointed that so many on the Board either deliberately chose to ignore, or
perhaps even worse, were unaware of the by-laws which govern Riverbay Corporation, and previous resolutions passed by the Board over the years to set policy. The by-laws of Riverbay Corporation are the equivalent of the Constitution of the United States in providing the guidelines for governing. Just as Congress can’t ignore or bypass the Constitution, the Riverbay Board can’t, or shouldn’t, try to ignore or bypass our corporation’s by-laws or previous resolutions. So, first let me make it perfectly clear that Board committees, which includes the Audit Committee, report to the full Board. All committees, once again, including the Audit Committee, have the authority to make recommendations to the full Board for consideration. No committees, and certainly not the Audit Committee, is a quasi-independent body exercising unlimited power on its own simply because some want to use it as a vehicle for political gain. It is for just this reason that former New State Comptroller H. Carl McCall released an audit report over 10 years ago criticizing Riverbay Board members, and Board members on committees, for interfering with day-to-day operations at Riverbay and infringing upon management functions. Specifically, the McCall audit determined that certain Board members and
Carrion headed to Washington as President’s Director of Urban Affairs
BY BILL STUTTIG Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, who grew up in the northeast Bronx and graduated from Co-op City’s Truman High School, will be moving on to much loftier halls in the coming weeks as President Barack Obama appointed him as the White House Director of Urban Affairs. In this new position, Carrion will report directly to the President and coordinate all federal urban programs. Carrion, who was due to complete his second term as the Borough President for the Bronx this year, had been rumored for weeks to be in line for a position in the Obama administration after campaigning hard for the President during his successful run last autumn. Obama, in making the announcement
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Ex-Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion (Continued on page 4)